Cane mills



Jan. 20, 1959 v TIPPET 2,869,452

CANE- MILLS Filed Oct. 18. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A 59; 2, w 16 I v gATTORNEYS P. V. TIPPET Jan. 20, 1959 CANE MILLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledOct. 18. 1954 BWMT I ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1959 P. v. TIPPET 2,869,452

CANE MILLS Filed Oct. 18, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIHHI INVENTOR W K 4027y ym v ATTORNEYJ CANE MILLS Phiiip V. Tippet, Ansonia, Conn, assignor toFarrel- Birmingham Company, Incorporated, Ansonia, Cnn., a corporationof Connecticut Application October 18, 1954, Serial No. 462,736

11 Claims. (Cl. 100-165) This invention relates to cane mills and moreparticularly to a so-called three-roll stand of a cane mill, the standemploying a cane roll, a bagasse roll, and a top roll.

it is well established that a definite ratio should be maintainedbetween the opening between the top roll and the cane roll on the onehand and the top roll and bagasse roll on the other hand, and it hasbeen found that a most satisfactory arrangement is that wherein theratio between the cane and bagasse openings is approximately 2 to 1.

However, it is customary to so mount the top roll so that it floats tosome extent, this being necessary in order to insure that the fullhydraulic pressure on the rolls is obtained. It will be understood thatthe top roll is urged toward the cane and bagasse rolls by hydraulicpressure so that while the top roll is permitted to float, this pressurewill always be maintained. This floating of the top roll makes allowancefor the thickness of the blanket of cane passing through the mill.

Even though the rolls be originally set very carefully to provide theproper ratio between the cane and bagasse roll openings, this ratio is,of course, upset when the top roll moves against the hydraulic pressureapplied thereto. If, however, the top roll is so mounted that it wouldtend, when it rises, to move toward the bagasse roll, which might tendto maintain the initial ratio between the roll openings, the horizontalthrust of the top roll box is accentuated, and hence such a correctionfor the disturbance in the proper ratio is impractical.

In order to counteract the horizontal thrust to which the top roll issubjected, inclined housings have been employed in which the top roll ismounted, the inclination being in the direction of the entering cane.While such inclined housings relieve the side or horizontal thrustreferred to, they have the disadvantage of upsetting or disturbing theratio between the cane and bagasse roll openings even more than thevertical housings.

As it is desirable to employ such inclined housings, however, in orderto counteract the horizontal thrust referred to, the present inventioncontemplates the use of such inclined housings combined with means forautomatically moving the top roll forwardly (that is, in the directionin which the cane travels) as .it rises so that a fixed ratio of cane tobagasse roll openings is constantly maintained. To this end the housingfor the top roll is inclined rearwardly or toward the entering cane sothat the journal box of the top roll slides in the housing jaws as itrises along a resultant of the forces developed by a 2-to-1 openingratio, and at the same time means is provided to move the housingforwardly in an amount proportional to the rise of the top roll so thatthe 2-to-1 roll opening ratio (or any other ratio for which the rollsare set) will not be disturbed.

As illustrated in the drawings, the top roll is mounted in its ownhousing entirely separate from the lower rolls, this housing beingpermitted to swing about a pivot at its lower end through a relativelyshort are. A plunger is provided in the main frame of the mill to actupon the top Z,3@fl,452 Patented Jan. 20, 1959 roll housing and move itlaterally in response to any rising or falling movement of the top rollin its housing. As illustrated, this movement of the housing of the toproll is effected hydraulically. A closed hydraulic circuit is providedbetween a ram actuated by movement of the top roll and a ram which actson the pivoted housing of this roll. With such a construction adjustmentmay readily be made for any desired ratio of cane and bagasse rollopenings by changing the effective diameter of the cylinder in which oneof the plungers operates as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

One object of the present invention is to provide a three-roll cane millhaving means for maintaining a constant ratio between the cane andbagasse roll openings.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cane mill havinga top roll, a cane roll and a bagasse roll with means for permitting thetop roll to float and means for moving the top roll horizontally tomaintain a constant ratio between the cane and bagasse roll openings,the last means being responsive to floating movement of the top roll.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a three-roll canemill having a top roll, a cane roll, and a bagasse roll with a top rollhousing mounted in the roll stand for pivotal or swinging movement, andmeans for moving the housing horizontally about such pivot in responseto vertical movements of the top roll, the latter being mounted to floatin its housing.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features andcombinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a roll stand of a cane mill embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown a canemill comprising a pair of spaced side frames or housings 10 and 11. Inthese housings are mounted the cane roll 12 and bagasse roll 13, thenecks of these rolls being mounted in journals 14 and 15 respectivelyaccording to the usual custom. The roll journals may be held in place inthe side frames by caps 16 and 17 pivoted to the frame at 18 and 19, thecaps being held in place by a through bolt 20. Lateral adjustment of thejournal boxes 14 and 15 may be effected by the adjusting screws 21 and22. As the parts so far described are substantially of the usual form, amore detailed description will be unnecessary.

The roll stand is also provided with a top roll 23, each neck 24 ofwhich is mounted in a journal box 25. This box is mounted for slidingmovement in a direction inclined to the vertical in a top roll housing26.

Each of the roll housings 26 is constructed independently of the sidehousings 10 or 11 but extends downwardly therethrough, as shown in Figs.3 and 4. As shown in the latter figure, each housing 2.6 is providedwith a shouldered portion 27 adapted to rest on flanges 28 of thecorresponding side housings so as to be supported from below. Thecontacting surfaces between the parts 27 and 28 may be slightly arcuatein form, as shown in Fig. 3, in order to permit a rolling or pivotalmovement of the housing 26 about its lower end.

An adjusting screw 29 is threaded into the lower end of each of thehousings 26, the upper end of each screw abutting against the flattenedlower face of a pin 30 in each of the side housings to adjustably limitupward movement of the housing 26 during operation.

As shown in Fig. 1, the upper portion of each of the housings 26consists of spaced, wall elements 32 and 33.

the journal box 25 being, as stated, slidably mounted therebetween.Above the journal box is a spacer plate 34 engaged by the lower end of ablock 35, the upper end of this block bearing against a piston or ram36, this ram being slidably mounted in a cylinder 37 locked in placebetween the members 32 and 33 by-the key. 38. The cap 39 formedintegrally with the cylinder 37 rests upon the upper edges of thehousing. It will be understood that the cap and cylinder may be movedlaterally or vertically into position between the members 32 and 33 withthe bars 38 resting against the shoulders 40 formed on these members.

The cylinder 37 is provided with a cylinder head 41 removably mounted inthe cylinder 37 by a bayonet joint arrangement, and it will beunderstood that fluid pressure is introduced in the space 42 between thehead 41 and the upper end of the ram 36 in order to provide suitablehydraulic pressure upon the top roll 23 as is required for obtainingproper extraction of the cane juice and allow the top roll to float to acertain extent.

An auxiliary or small extension ram 44 is provided up n the main ram36', which extension ram operates in a cylinder 46 provided in the head41 of the main cylinder. The cylinder 46 is connected by the conduit 47with the cylinder 48 provided upon the corresponding main side housing,as shown in Fig. 3. The cylinder 48 is provided with a liner 49, andwithin this cylinder is movably mounted a ram 50, the outer end of whichacts against the housing 26 of the top roll.

The movement of the housing 26 is resisted by a springpressed plunger 52mounted in the main housing on the side of the housing 26 opposite theram 50, the plunger 52 being urged toward the housing 26 by a spring 53,the tension of which is adjustable by means of the adjusting screw 54.

The usual turn plate 55 (Fig. 4) may be provided between the cane andbagasse rolls, this plate being adjustable by means of the crank pin 56.

It will be understood that hydraulic pressure is introduced into thecylinder 37 in the usual manner to maintain pressure upon the top roll.It will also be seen that the cylinders 46 and 48 together with theconnecting conduit 47 constitute a closed hydraulic circuit which willbe kept full of fluid such as oil. This circuit is ordinarily connectedto a source of hydraulic pressure merely to replace possible leakage.

With this construction as the top roll rises, for example, the auxiliaryram 44- will reduce the volume of fluid in cylinder 46, forcing thefluid into cylinder 48 behind the ram 50. This in turn forces the ram tothe right, as

shown in Fig. 3. thus moving the top roll laterally or in asubstantially horizontal direction toward a vertical plane passingthrough the axis of the bagasse roll 13. The capacity of the cylinders46 and 48 is so proportioned that the movement of the housing 26laterally in response to an upward movement of the roll 23 is such as tomaintain constant the ratio between the cane and bagasse openings.

The pressure maintained in the cylinders 46 and 48 is such as tocounteract any pressure upon the housing '26 effected by the frictionalresistance of the turn plate or the driving efiect of the gearing uponthe rolls. It will also be understood that if a ratio other than a2-to-1 ratio is desired between the cane and bagasse roll openings, itis only necessary to introduce a liner 49 of different dimensions intothe cylinder 43 in order to increase or decrease the ratio between thecapacity of this cylinder and the cylinder 46. As the amount of fluidwithin the closed hydraulic system embracing these cylinders'remainsconstant, the movement imparted to ram 50 by any given movement of ram44 will be constant so long as the dimensions of the cylinders remainconstant so that any desired ratio may be maintained between the caneand bagasse roll openings.

ment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limitedto all of the details shown, but is capable of modification andvariation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of theclaims.

What I claim is:

l. A cane mill having a cane roll and a bagasse roll, and housings inwhich the ends of said rolls are mounted, a top roll, and housings inwhich said top roll is mounted, said last-named housings being mountedfor lateral movement relatively to the first housings, said top rollbeing mounted for rising and falling movement relatively to itshousings, and means responsive to said last-named movement to efiectlateral movement of the top roll housings.

2. A cane mill having a cane roll and a bagasse roll, and housings inwhich the ends of said rolls are mounted, a top roll, and housings inwhich said top roll is mounted, said last-named housings being mountedfor lateral movement relatively to the first housings, said top rollbeing mounted for rising and falling movement in its housings, meansresponsive to said last-named movement to eifect lateral movement of thetop roll housings, said means comprising a cylinder on each of saidfirstnamed housings, and a piston in each of said cylinders acting onsaid top roll, and means controlled by rising and falling movements ofthe top roll for introducing fluid pressure into said cylinders.

3. A cane mill having a cane roll and a bagasse roll, and housings inwhich the ends of said rolls are mounted, a top roll, and housings, eachhaving a portion in which said top roll is mounted, said last-namedhousings being mounted forlateral movement relatively to the firsthousings, said top roll being mounted for rising and falling movement inits housings, hydraulic means responsive to said last-named movement toeffect lateral movement of the top roll housings, said top roll housingportions being inclined with respect to the vertical, and hydraulicmeans for exerting downward pressure upon said top roll.

4. A cane 'millhaving cane and bagasse rolls, and end housings in whicheach end of each of said rolls is mounted, top roll housings and a toproll mounted therein for rising and falling movement toward and from thecane and bagasse rolls, each of said top roll housings being rockinglymounted with respect to one of said first-named housings for lateralmovement with respect thereto, a cylinder carried by each of the toproll housings, a piston in each of said cylinders moved by risingmovements of the top roll and means actuated by movement of sad pistonsfor eifecting lateral movements of said top roll hous ings in responseto, and in an amount proportional to, the rising and falling movementsof said top roll.

5. A cane mill having cane and bagasse rolls, and end housings in whicheach end of each of said rolls is mounted, top roll housings and a toproll mounted there in for rising and falling movement toward and fromthe cane and bagasse rolls, each of said top roll housings being rockingly mounted with respect to one of said firstnamed housings for lateralmovement with respect theretofmeans for effecting lateral movements ofsaid top roll housings in response to, and in an amount proportional to,the rising and falling movements of said top roll, said means comprisinga cylinder supported by said first-named housing having a piston thereinacting upon the top roll housing, a second cylinder in said top rollhousing having a piston therein moved in response to movements of thetop roll, and conduit means con necting said cylinders to provide aclosed hydraulic circuit therebetween.

6. A cane mill having cane and bagasse rolls, and end housings in whicheach end of each of said rolls is mounted, top roll housings and a toproll mounted therein for rising and falling movement toward and from thecane and bagasse rolls, each ofsaid top roll housings being'rockinglymoun'ted with respect to one of said first-- named housingsfor lateral movement with respect thereto, means for effecting lateralmovements of said top roll housings in response to, and in an amountproportional to, the rising and falling movements of said top roll, saidmeans comprising a cylinder supported by said first-named housing havinga piston therein acting upon the top roll housing, a second cylinder insaid top roll housing having a piston therein moved in response tomovements of the top roll, conduit means connecting said cylinders toprovide a closed hydraulic circuit therebetween, and means for exertingdownward pressure upon said top roll comprising a cooperating piston andcylinder, and said second piston being formed integrally with saidlast-named piston.

7. A cane mill having a cane roll, a bagasse roll and a top roll, therebeing openings between the top roll and the cane roll on the one handand the top roll and the bagasse roll on the other hand, between whichthe cane passes, means for mounting said top roll for rising and fallingmovements in a direction generally toward and from said cane and bagasserolls, and means to move said top roll laterally to maintain the ratiobetween said openings substantially constant regardless of movements ofsaid top roll, said means comprising a cylinder, a piston in saidcylinder actuated by rising movement of the top roll, and meansresponsive to movement of said piston to move the top roll laterally inan amount proportional to the movement of the piston, said last-namedmeans comprising a second cylinder connected to said first cylinder anda piston in said second cylinder, and a housing for the top roll againstwhich said last-named piston bears.

8. A cane mill having a cane roll, a bagasse roll and a top roll, therebeing openings between the top roll and the cane roll on the one handand the top roll and the bagasse roll on the other hand, between whichthe cane passes, means for mounting said top roll for rising and fallingmovements in a direction generally toward and from said cane and bagasserolls, and means to move said top roll laterally to maintain the ratiobetween said openings substantially constant regardless of movements ofsaid top roll, said means comprising a cylinder, a piston in saidcylinder actuated by rising movement of the top rOll, means responsiveto movement of said piston to move the top roll laterally in an amountproportional to the movement of the piston, a housing having a portionin which said top roll is mounted, said housing portion being inclinedwith respect to the vertical.

9. A cane mill having a cane roll, a bagasse roll and a top roll, therebeing openings between the top roll and the cane roll on the one handand the top roll and the bagasse roll on the other hand, between whichthe cane 7 passes, means for mounting said top roll for rising andfalling movements in a direction generally toward and from said cane andbagasse rolls, and means to move said top roll laterally to maintain theratio between said openings substantially constant regardless ofmovements of said top roll, said means comprising a cylinder, a pistonin said cylinder actuated by rising movement of the top roll, meansresponsive to movement of said piston to move the top roll laterally inan amount proportional to the movement of the piston, a housing having aportion in which said top roll is mounted, said housing portion beinginclined with respect to the vertical and said housing being pivotallymounted for swinging movement in a generally lateral direction.

10. A cane mill having a cane roll and a bagasse roll and housings inwhich the ends of said rolls are mounted, a top roll and housings inwhich said top roll is mounted, said last-named housings being mountedfor lateral movement relatively to the first housings, said top rollbeing mounted for rising and falling movement in its housings, hydraulicmeans applying pressure to said top roll to control such rising andfalling movement comprising a follower member actuated by the top rollin such movements in its housings, and means responsive to the actuationof said member to move said top roll housings laterally.

11. A cane mill having a cane roll and a bagasse roll and housings inwhich the ends of said rolls are mounted, a top roll and housings inwhich said top roll is mounted, said last-named housings being mountedfor lateral movement relatively to the first housings, actuating meansto effect such lateral movement, said top roll being mounted for risingand falling movement in its housings, and means responsive to saidlast-named movement to operate said actuating means.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file of this patent1,106,301 Hedemann Aug. 4, 1914 2,316,843 Compaign Apr. 20, 1943 FOREIGNPATENTS 21,802 Netherlands May 15, 1930 335,292 Germany Mar. 30, 1921

